Despite the importance of medical care, one in three Americans avoid doctor visits (Cleveland Clinic Medical Professional, 2021). Considering our modernizing world, applying robotics to healthcare, particularly with Medical Service Robots (MSRs), yields the potential to improve patient engagement and overall care (“Medical robots,” n.d.). Recognizing the impact of design on user perceptions, the purpose of this study was to manipulate the angularity and curvature of MSR designs to reduce perceived threat and increase warmth and trust among patients. Participants (N=230) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: curved MSR design, angular design, or a no-image control group. After viewing the stimulus, participants answered Likert-type scales that measured their perception of them. ANOVA tests revealed that perceived trust was unaffected by angularity, while perceived warmth approached significance (p = .06). Significant effects were found for preference (p = .02) and perceived threat (p = .04), with the curved MSR design being most preferred and the angular version perceived as most threatening. Additionally, gender was found to have a significant main effect for preference (p < .01), warmth (p = .04), and trust (p = .04) as males rated the robots higher than females. These findings can be used to create MSR designs that are most positively perceived, thus optimizing their ability to improve patient care.
Abstract
Despite the importance of medical care, one in three Americans avoid doctor visits (Cleveland Clinic Medical Professional, 2021). Considering our modernizing world, applying [...]
Acute or a Cute Robot? The Effect of Angularity on Medical Service Robot Perception 
